Everyone has a story that is unique to them. We all want to share our experiences with the world, whether we're talking about how a business works or our own lives. Because of this, bookstore shelves are full of books that promise to entertain, inform, and teach readers.
The old saying that "everyone has at least one book in them" might be true after all. If so, how do you know if your current idea is good enough for a book or if it needs to be tweaked to be the most marketable?
Test your book idea before you put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). Use the following questions to help you develop your idea and write a manuscript that will be a best-seller.
Can you say what your book is about in less than 10 words?
Many new authors have trouble because they want to say too much at once. Instead of focusing on one idea, they try to put a lot of different ideas into one book. This method not only makes it hard to organise your book, but it also gives your readers too much information.
In 10 words or less, you can say what a good book is about and what it's about. Know that your goal is different from your theme or plot. The purpose of a book is what you want the reader to do or think as a direct result of reading it. Now, a statement like "to live a better life" or "to run a better business" is not specific. A goal is not a broad statement. It's something specific that you want the reader to do.
For example, if you're writing a business book, your goal should be to help your readers improve one specific business function, like marketing, customer service, project management, etc. Your goal shouldn't be to teach business leaders how to make better marketing materials, give better customer service, build long-term relationships with customers, keep more employees, and find the best new talent. That's just too much for a single book. Keep your goal clear so you can give information that is useful and relevant.
- Is your book written for a certain type of person?
You want to market your book to a lot of people, but you also want to reach people who are interested in your topic. It's not enough to say that your audience is "business people," "women," or "the general public." Why? Not all business people have the same worries, not all women are interested in the same things, and not everyone in the general public will be able to relate to your ideas.
When you limit your audience to people who have a specific connection to your theme or who fit a certain demographic, you gain a marketing edge that can help you position your book better. So instead of saying that your audience is "business people," you could say "company owners," "middle management," or "entrepreneurs." Instead of trying to sell to "women," it would be better to target "women over 50," "working moms," or "single women under 35." All of these groups have a lot of people in them, but they are still small enough that you can focus your message.
- Are you saying something new?
If you want people to take the time and spend the money to read your book, you have to tell them something new. Too many authors try to rewrite or restate old ideas that have been said many times before. You can use other people's work to back up claims or give your message more weight, but make sure your main idea is new and different.
How can you be sure that your approach is different? Include the results of a survey that you did yourself. Case studies from your own business or life are a good idea. Talk to people who have facts and information to share. Add things about yourself to make your message stand out. Since this is your book, tell your story or say what you think about something.
Many authors are afraid to say something new about a topic that has already been written about. They worry that it might turn people off or hurt them. Remember that people like to argue, so if your book can stir things up and make people think twice about something, you'll have a better chance of getting people talking about it.
- How good are your writing skills?
Even if you have the best idea in the world, no one will want to read your text if it's full of mistakes, not well put together, or hard to understand. Before you start writing too much of your book, you should brush up on your writing skills by taking a writing class, reading a writing guide, or hiring a writing coach to help you fix your writing problems. Also, find out what kind of writing style your audience likes, and then try to write like that. As much as possible, write for the people you want to read it.
If you're not sure if your writing skills are good enough, talk to a professional editor or ghostwriter. They can fix your writing so that it meets the standards for publishing. Don't let poor writing skills ruin your best-selling idea.
Start right away
Writing a book isn't an easy task. If you can say "yes" to all of the above questions, you'll be well on your way to turning your idea into something that can be published. Before you start writing, give your idea time to grow and change so that you can make the best book possible. To give your book the most market appeal, you just need to plan ahead and think ahead.
Did you learn anything from this? Check out our websites for more helpful hints, things to think about and remember, techniques, and insights about guides on publishing, self-publishing, e-book publishing, article writing, and other related topics.
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